There are 3 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2009 Kia Spectrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,424. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR 45 MINUTES UNTIL HER HUSBAND ARRIVED TO LET HER OUT. SEATBELT WOULD UNLOCK. UPDATED 04/20/2015 *JS
JANUARY 2013 I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE PAINT PEELING OFF OF THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR BUT REALIZED THAT IT WAS A CLEAR COAT OVER THE PAINT. I WENT TO A LOCAL KIA DEALER AND A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2010 WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT DAY THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PLACES WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IT IS A VERY POOR JOB DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CAR IS TOO NEW FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND THERE ARE NO EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
WHILE PULLING MY CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I DROVE FORWARD AT A LOW SPEED AND HEARD A SWOOSHING SOUND OF WATER FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE GLOVE BOX AREA. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THE SOUND BECAME WORSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED IT TO BE A CLOGGED DRAIN HOSE FOR THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND REPAIR/REPLACE DRAIN HOSE AT A COST OF $900 INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER, I DISCOVERED THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. I'M SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON BEHALF OF KIA MOTOR CORPORATION. KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IF THEY WANT REPEAT CUSTOMERS IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026